Off the coast of Tasmania, with a population of just 1,723 people and only one school, King Island isn't a regular destination for AFL player appearances. 

So you can understand why the kids at the local school were excited when Ben Brown, Nathan Hrovat and Tom Campbell paid a special visit. 

“It was really cool to be able to go out to King Island, it’s a beautiful place, and the students were great to be with,” Hrovat told North Media.

“It was definitely a great experience for us.”

Campbell echoing those thoughts. 

“After the school visit we were invited to watch the local footy game on Saturday, which was a lot of fun. The whole island stops for the game,” he said.

The players ran clinics, spoke to the kids, and helped out at the local footy training.

Months later, this long distance relationship hasn’t wavered.

Earlier this week, North’s not-for-profit community arm, The Huddle, hosted two dozen students from King Island at Arden Street.

The student’s participated in The Huddle’s True North program, exploring what communication, grit, and leadership meant to them.

The students were then invited to watch training.

It’s safe to say it was a very different atmosphere than last time they had seen the North stars.